EXECUTIVE MANSION, _Washington, February 29, 1884_.
_To the Senate and House of Representatives:_
I transmit herewith, for the consideration of Congress, a report of the
Secretary of State, accompanying a report made by the commission lately
designated by me to examine and report upon the asserted unhealthfulness
of the swine products of this country. The views and conclusions of the
commission deserve the most careful consideration of Congress, to the
end that if any path be legitimately open for removing the prohibition
which closes important foreign markets to those products it may be
followed and appropriate legislation devised.
I earnestly recommend that Congress provide for reimbursing the expenses
incurred by the commissioners in this praiseworthy service, and I should
be glad also if some remunerative recognition of their public-spirited
action in accepting the onerous and responsible duties imposed on them
were to suggest itself to Congress. At all events, in view of the
conflicting theories touching the origin and propagation of trichiniasis
and the means of isolating and extirpating it among domestic swine, and
considering the important bearing which precise knowledge on these
points would have on the commercial aspects of the matter, I recommend
provision for special research in this direction.